Vodacom SA holds a panel discussion at Vodacom World to empower local businesswomen

May 22, 2024

0 43 2 minutes read

Several obstacles prevent women from participating in industries considered to be male-dominated, such as farming, technology, construction, and transportation.

On August 25, local businesswomen had an opportunity to learn how to navigate the entrepreneurial landscape, and the support available to empower women as Vodacom SA hosted a panel discussion with successful businesswomen at Vodacom World, Midrand.

While women entrepreneurs were making strides to overcome gender-related biased and advance their business in South Africa, they still faced several structural and social obstacles, many of which have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lynette Magasa, Neils Carelsen, Deborah Motuku, Lilian Kistan, and Tashline Jooste discuss obstacles women face in entrepreneurship. Photo: Comfort Makhanya

According to the global Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs, South Africa moved up nine places – a 7.1% increase from 2019 – to rank 23rd globally and first in Africa on the 2020 index which tracks female entrepreneurs’ ability to capitalise on conditions within their local environment.

The panellists included beneficiaries of The Innovator Trust and Vodacom Foundation. These were Lilian Kistan, director of Tekwecomm; Tashline Jooste, CEO of The Innovator Trust; Lynette Magasa, CEO of Boniswa Corporate Solutions; and Deborah Motuku, president of South African Women in Farming. Also on the panel was head of supply chain management at Vodacom SA Niels Carelsen.

Head of supply chain management at Vodacom SA Niels Carelsen speaks at the panel discussion. Photo: Comfort Makhanya

Local businesswomen attending had a chance to engage with the panellists and ask questions about how they managed to overcome their barriers as women in business.

According to Carelsen, one of the major barriers was gaining access to crucial supply chain networks. She said the hurdles to success were tackled by the foundation with the purpose of driving greater gender equality that would ultimately benefit the economy to uplift all.

Vodacom SA public sector Poppy Tshabalala, and external affairs chief officer and executive director Takalani Netshitenzhe hug each other after the panel discussion. Photo: Comfort Makhanya

Jooste said, “Unless a business has digital and entrepreneurial skills, it will struggle. The websites and digital footprints of SMMEs enable them to continue operating even if they cease to exist and to build their profiles.”

Businesswomen attend the panel discussion at Vodacom World. Photo: Comfort Makhanya

Vodacom SA’s Poppy Tshabalala highlighted that the purpose of the foundation was to upskill unemployed youth and expose them to opportunities within the IT entrepreneurship sector.